Does the summer heat tend to make you surly after a while If so, you aren’t alone. Studies have long noted that hot weather seems to coincide with aggressive behavior. Just about every type of criminal activity tends to rise, including assaults, robberies and murders. Science has also discovered that people are just less friendly and more disinclined to be nice to others when the temperatures rise.
If you’re living with a spouse who has problems controlling their emotions, the summer heat can literally bring tensions to a boil. However, the heat is not entirely to blame. Aside from the heat, other seasonal factors that may increase the likelihood of domestic violence include:
- Family pressures, including too much “togetherness” while the kids are home from school or everyone is on a vacation
- Social drinking, which tends to rise during the summer months as people spend more time relaxing in their yards or with friends
- Financial frustrations, especially if a family overspends on their vacation or other recreational activities and then runs into a money crisis later
It’s important to realize that the heat isn’t what actually causes domestic violence — it’s just one more factor that tends to make people who already have anger control issues lash out at others.
Domestic violence is never okay. It puts you and your children at risk and could expose you to intervention by child welfare authorities. If you’re the victim of domestic violence, speak with an experienced attorney who can help you obtain a protective order and take other measures that will protect your future and your rights.